Loading Remington 148 gr HBWC in 38LC

[nitroexpress]

I was searching for some insight into loading the 38 HBWC and quite often I came upon the advice not to FL resize. Well not in the conventional manner anyways.

This seemed to make sense, so I tried it. For the first batch I "sized" with the LEE Factory Crimping die before loading the powder and bullet. On the second batch I just let the LFC die do it's thing after seating the bullet.

For my application, a low pressure load in 38 LC brass, case expansion is so minimal if at all, I don't think it matters.

What this accomplishes, it minimizes the amount that the bullet base is swaged down. The base of the bullet is about 0.362", and most FL sizing dies size the brass so that a 0.357", or slightly smaller bullet is sufficiently gripped.

My thanks to the post quoted below:

"This is the most accurate component HBWC bullet currently available now that you cannot buy Winchester wadcutters anymore. For best accuracy do not full length resize fired brass, but decap using a universal decapper, inside mouth deburr, flare and prime with a "soft" primer such as Remington 1-1/2. The bullet base is .362 diameter and is a snug fit in unsized brass. Seat bullets flush and full length resize loaded rounds to ensure easy chambering by using the Lee Factory crimp die or Redding profile die. Use only enough taper crimp to remove all mouth flare. Excessive crimp or forcing a soft bullet base into a too-tight case neck is what destroys accuracy. Properly loaded these bullets will consistently shoot 1-1/2" six-shot groups at 50 yards consistently from a custom PPC revolver and will do this for ten-shot groups in a T/C Contender or custom single-shot rifle such as a BSA Cadet with Green Mountain barrel, Unertl small game scope and .38AMU style chamber."

I'd like to credit "By Ed, From Fairfax, VA". The above quote is his comment about the bullet on the Midway USA site.

 

[John Joseph]

Used to be able to buy Remmys by the bagful from Midway.
I haven't seen them listed for a long time though.
Accurate but the coating they came with got all over the place

 

[nitroexpress]

I got 500, from a fellow that went to a plated WC. A quick chat on the Remington site revealed it hasn't been offered as a component for a long time.

I was impressed by how clean they ran. No leading, no crud.

Fun to play with, but it doesn't look like I'll ever be able to buy more. Too bad.

 

[Blue68f100]

I was searching for some insight into loading the 38 HBWC and quite often I came upon the advice not to FL resize. Well not in the conventional manner anyways.

This seemed to make sense, so I tried it. For the first batch I "sized" with the LEE Factory Crimping die before loading the powder and bullet. On the second batch I just let the LFC die do it's thing after seating the bullet.

For my application, a low pressure load in 38 LC brass, case expansion is so minimal if at all, I don't think it matters.

What this accomplishes, it minimizes the amount that the bullet base is swaged down. The base of the bullet is about 0.362", and most FL sizing dies size the brass so that a 0.357", or slightly smaller bullet is sufficiently gripped.

My thanks to the post quoted below:

"Have you ever heard of FLResize after setting the bullet? I have not and I thought it was a new accuracy trick... I'll post the short clip.

Here is a clip from the site talking about a remington .358 HBWC...
For best accuracy do not full length resize fired brass, but decap using a universal decapper, inside mouth deburr, flare and prime with a "soft" primer such as Remington 1-1/2. The bullet base is .362 diameter and is a snug fit in unsized brass. Seat bullets flush and full length resize loaded rounds to ensure easy chambering by using the Lee Factory crimp die or Redding profile die. Use only enough taper crimp to remove all mouth flare. Excessive crimp or forcing a soft bullet base into a too-tight case neck is what destroys accuracy. Properly loaded these bullets will consistently shoot 1-1/2" six-shot groups at 50 yards consistently"

I would not do that. Post sizing lead bullets just removes any neck tension you had. The spring back is less with lead than brass, so you end up with a loose fitting bullet. A TC is not going to hold the bullet place, like a roll crimp. BAD IDEA in my Opinion.

 

[nitroexpress]

In actual practice, with this bullet and a light load, the LEE FCD only irons out a bit of the crimp, and slightly touches the spot where one would measure the PRE. It doesn't even touch the area that grips the bullet. At least that's what is happening with my set-up. My die isn't moving the metal enough to get into the spring back region of lead bullet or the brass case.

I'd be curious to know the exact set-up you had where you lost neck tension. Was it with the Rem HBWC or another bullet? Or perhaps you were using a Redding profile die, and I've had no experience with that die.

I was a bit skeptical of the process myself, and my curiosity got the better of me, so I felt compelled to try it. Like they say, YMMV.

A LEE FCD has a carbide sizing ring that sizes to cartridge max, or app 0.378. It's not like a normal FL sizing die. A FL sizing die in 38/357 is at 0.374" app.

The skirt on a Remington HBWC is app 0.362, it makes no sense to me to seat it in a case that has an ID of 0.355". My fired brass has an ID of 0.3585 app. Small enough for good neck tension.

Note: To my knowledge the Remington HBWC is unique in that the skirt is flared out to this extent. It is also has a conical hollow. IMNSHO it is well suited for the 38 LC.

nitro